In this Blue Pioneers podcast episode, hosted by Sea Change Row Expedition member Chrissy Durkin, a biodiversity specialist with U.K.-based Ørsted, Samir Whitaker, shared his insights on green energy solutions and how his industry is working to deliver benefits for climate and nature.
Samir noted the transition to renewable energy is critical for tackling climate change, but it's equally important that this transition happens in a way that protects and enhances biodiversity. Offshore wind is set to play a major role, with ambitious targets to multiply capacity in the coming years. The recognition that Nature is the key stakeholder is imperative.
To achieve a net positive impact, Ørsted is taking a proactive approach from the early project design stage by avoiding sensitive marine habitats and looking for ways to minimize impacts during construction. Outlining the ways Ørsted will restore and enhance marine habitats within their wind farm sites, Samir speaks to a holistic seascape approach that supports interconnected habitats to boost the overall health and resilience of marine ecosystems.
Samir provides details on how data will be collected and used to inform biodiversity-friendly wind farm design and measure impacts over time, for a better understanding of how marine species interact with the infrastructure and to track recovery after construction.
The challenges in measuring biodiversity outcomes and alignment with nature positive development requires close collaboration with conservation organizations and local stakeholders. Samir said, while individual actions matter, improving marine conservation at a grand scale will require systemic changes and strong public advocacy to strengthen regulations around issues like curbing nutrient pollution.
Join the conversation to learn more about these climate/nature breakthroughs in wind farming.
About Samir
Samir has 15 years of global experience in biodiversity and ecosystem management, Biodiversity Net Gain initiatives and sustainable sourcing for the private and NGO sectors, and developing and delivering projects and partnerships across a range of landscapes. He has significant experience screening, managing and integrating biodiversity and social risk through projects and supply chains, designing and executing biodiversity net gain strategy, environmental baseline studies, and developing tailored tools, guidance and policy. Committed to driving business change and achieving long-term sustainability by making conservation core business.
He leads the integration of Ørsted's global biodiversity ambition into their UK Business, including a quantitative framework Net Positive Impact, project plans for Biodiversity Net Gain, and supporting the development and rollout of company-wide Nature Based Solutions.
About Chrissy
As president and chief development officer with Wildmon in the U.S., Chrissy is focused on solving biodiversity loss. She has been deeply entrenched in the conservation tech space, working directly with indigenous communities to the largest corporations to use tech to empower action. An avid animal rescuer and adventurer who likes to see the world from new perspectives, she is one of six women environmental leaders, on the Sea Change Row Expedition Team. Launching from Tower Bridge in London on June 9, their mission is to row 2,000 miles around the British coastline without stopping and unassisted to collect data on biodiversity, microplastics, sound and ocean temperature. Their data will support a long term study on ocean health led by the University of Portsmouth.
